Exploring New Approaches in Teacher Education to Enhance Learning and Improve Practice Working with academics in planning curriculum innovation across often unfamiliar knowledge domains, I spend much of my initial time endeavoring to understand different conceptual and methodological organizing frameworks for course development.…
The Coffee Principle of Differentiation
Yes, it is true – I drink a lot of coffee. And so, I also buy a lot of coffee. My daughter always complains I drink too much, I buy too much! (really?) But it would appear she is right.…
Gonski 2.0? Been there. Done that.
I have a confession. I have been in education for a long time now. I started my teaching journey in Western Australia, in 1987 as a career change teacher. Over that time, I have seen several curricula come and go.…
ID in Saudi Arabia
Developments in Saudi Arabia It is an exciting time of change in Saudi Arabia. One of the key changes is the launch in 2016 of the Saudi Vision 2030 which is a comprehensive plan to reduce Saudi Arabia’s dependence on…
Successful! Classroom Planning
Classroom Planning with Success in Mind! In a recent classroom, I had a student from a non-English speaking background, a student diagnosed with diabetes on medication, a student with dyslexia, another student with a non-specific learning disability, a student with…
Creativity in the Classroom
Planning with Williams’ Model of Creative Thinking Bubbles everywhere! I walked up to the Year 6 students blowing bubbles with their coloured bubble wands. Large and small, multicoloured, floating in the slight breeze of the hot day. In a creative…
Dreaming of Differentiation
Making it Maker’s Model It’s the English teacher in me! I love alliteration. The deliberate play with words creates emphasis and draws attention to an area of the text. It also creates sound – in this case, MMM, like looking…
3 Ways of Using Bloom’s Taxonomy
Did you know? One of the most commonly used taxonomies for understanding and planning education curricula, assessments and learning activities is Bloom’s Taxonomy. Named after the educational psychologist, Benjamin Bloom, who headed a team of researchers, the taxonomy was first…
Curriculum Change in Australia, Reflections on the National Curriculum
I found this paper, I had written in 1999, recently and decided it was worth another airing. The Australian National Curriculum is well on its way to implementation in Australian schools, both private and State systems. It is worth a…